Page 69 of His North Star
The sun shone through the window, casting a warm glow against the yellow walls. Ty and I stood in the middle of the room. As the smallest bedroom, it would be perfectly suited for a baby. Ty stepped closer to me, my back inches from his chest.
His breath tickled my neck. For the briefest moment I pictured Ty and me building a crib together. Laughing when Ty hit his finger with a hammer. Him leaning down to whisper at my swollen stomach. A flipping sensation brought my hand to my abdomen. My heart followed right after. The warmth from the sun now burned.
What. Just. Happened?
I cleared my throat and took a step away from Ty. I kept my voice even. “It’s a beautiful home.”
“It’ll be even better when it’s finished.”
I turned around. His gaze held mine. Could he read my thoughts?
“I need to go,” I rushed. “But thank you for showing me the place. I can’t wait for you to move in.”
I had to get out of there. Dreaming of building a life together with Ty in this house came all too easily. Eleven years ago, that’s all I ever wanted. The walls I’d built in high school to keep Ty out of my heart were crumbling. All because he mentioned a nursery. My jealousy over his future wife making this house a home stabbed my chest.
Never had he said he wanted it to be with me. One thing was for certain—I’d never, ever risk our friendship.
Ty was too important to me. Too essential to who I was as a person. There was no me without him. He was the Heart to my Soul nebula in the Milky Way.
Why then couldn’t I get past the longing? Why couldn’t I realize Ty friend-zoned me and stop the fantasies once and for all?Why?
CHAPTER 18
Heatfromthefireseeped into my bones. I stared at the dancing flames, the blue and orange hues popping against the azure sky. Smoke from the fire swirled upward. I inhaled, savoring the scent of burning wood. My hair absorbed the smell, but it was totally worth it.
Guests were scheduled to arrive at our extra-large, cinder block firepit in twenty minutes. I’d come early to set up the table with s’mores supplies and bring a camp chair down for Mom. The three log benches, two deep, that circled the fire ring wouldn’t be comfortable for her. Dad and I hoped that being around other people tonight would bring back a piece of her we’d all missed since her accident.
“I’m not sure what’s more captivating, you or the fire,” James said from behind me.
I jumped at his voice, my heart pounding in my chest as I turned to face him.
He was as hot as ever in shorts and a forest green henley tee. But disappointment clenched my stomach that it was James and not Ty. Ty and that stupid amazing house. I couldn’t stop imagining myself living there as Ty’s wife.
I forced a smile. “Hey, stranger.”
He wrapped his arms around me. “Looks like I came at the right time. There’s no one here but us.”
Indeed, we were alone. I pulled back, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. “You did,” I said. “My parents will be here any minute, but until then. . .” I bit my lip.
“How much time do you think we have?”
Did it matter? We saw one another infrequently. Shouldn’t we make every second count? Or, like me, was he questioning if our relationship was worth holding on to? Not only because of the work schedule issue, but he wasn’t Ty, and after last weekend, the fortress I’d built to keep my love for Ty locked in had all but collapsed.
But Ty didn’t want me, and James did. I internally moaned. Too many conflicting emotions warred within me. “We have a few minutes. My mom has been dying to meet you, by the way.” Meeting my parents was a big step. Bigger than we were ready for. “It might cheer her up.”
“So no pressure to charm her?” he teased.
I smiled. “Exactly.”
“How long does this thing last?”
“Anxious much?” I smiled.
“Ha, ha,” he replied without humor. “More like counting down the minutes until we truly are alone. I have something I want to tell you.”
I eyed him. Besides a slight smile, which could indicate any number of things, he remained mysterious.
“Good news, I hope?”
